AIDSImpact.com:: - Santa Fe, USA 2011

Abstract #300 - Sampling methods in HIV research: do online and clinic samples differ on disease-oriented variables?
Authors: Presenting Author: Dr Richard Harding - Kings College London
Additional Authors: Dr. Lorraine Sherr, Dr. Fiona Lampe, Dr. Claudine Clucas, Dr. T Molloy,
Aim: Behavioural sciences increasingly use web-based recruitment methods in HIV populations, but the data collection method has not been previously tested to measure patient self-report disease-oriented variables. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that there will be no difference between web and clinic HIV self-report samples in demographic variables, global, physical and psychological symptom burden.
Method / Issue: 347 gay men with HIV were recruited through an internet-based survey; 427 gay men of a total 627 patients were recruited in 2 clinics with all patients approached. Pain & symptom burden measured using the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale-Short Form. Univariate and multivariate analyses adjusted for age, ARV use and sample source with global burden, physical burden and psychological symptom burden subscales as dependent variables.
Results / Comments: Total clinic response rate 86.6%. Web vs clinic samples respectively: mean age 37.4 vs 40.0 (p=0.001); no sig diff on level of education achieved (p=0.179); in paid employment 63.7% vs 58.7% (p=0.178); on antiretroviral therapy (ARV) 57.9% vs 72.2% (p=0.001). Multivariate models: Global Distress Index (GDI), both ARV use (p=0.008, b=0.135) and recruitment from web (p=0.035, b=0.079) associated with increasing score. Being on ARV was associated with increased Physical Distress Index (PHYS), (p=0.001, b=0.152) no association found for sample or age. Psychological Distress Index (PSY), no association found for any variable.
Discussion: This is the first study to explore validity of web-based versus clinic recruitment in disease-oriented research. The regressions showed an association between web recruitment and higher GDI but not with PHYS or PSY symptom burden. Web-based sampling may offer methods that require fewer resources. Our findings reject the hypothesis that the samples do not differ on demographics or global distress, but find the hypothesis to be true that they do not differ on physical and psychological symptom distress.
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